Sound-box diaphragm.



I. H. ELFERING.

soum) BOX DIAPHRAGM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I2. I910.

1,182,078. Patented May 9, 1916.

V I N VE N TOR (fO/l/l/Z /fdiflQ/Q].

WITNESSES A 20 ATTORNEY specification, reference being had to the ac- UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. ELFERING, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO VICTOR TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY,

SOUND-BOX DIAPHRAGM.

of Camden, in the county of'Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Box" Diaphragms, whereof the following is a companying drawing.

This invention particularly relates to diaphragms for sound recording and reproducing devices, such as are preferably adapted to talking machines. v

The principal object of this invention is to provide a diaphragm thatwill readily respond to the most delicate vibrations and accurately record and reproduce all of the high and low tones and the included range with equal clearness.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a diaphragm having itsmajor por tion v formed substantially inflexible and ca- 'pable of'reciprocation independently of its -margin; and to provide means to flexibly connect said inflexible major portion with said margin.

The form of this invention hereinafter described prpvides a diaphragm comprising a' central conically dished inflexible plate, having a "peripheral flange extended in a plane in substantially perpendicular relation to the axis of said conical plate, a separate annular margin snrroundingsaid flange in aplane therewith, and a thin flexible imperforable membrane connecting said flange and margin and arranged to support said inflexible plate.

This invention further includes all of the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified. v

Inthe accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a diaphragm showing the preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a central transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 in Fig: 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a modification of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the diaphragm shown in Fig. 3 and taken on the line 44 in said figure.

In the form of this invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the central major portion of the diaphragm comprises the conically dished disk or plate 5, which as best shown Specification of Letters Patent,

- sheet material.

Application filed November 12,1910; 1 Serial No. 591,947. l

Patented May 9, 1916.

2 has the peripheral flange fiiextend ed 1n a plane in perpendicular relation to the-- axis of saiddiaphragm and surrounded by the annular marginal member -8 in spaced" relation to the periphery of. said flange 6, and in a plane therewith. Said marginal mem her 8 is connected with the flange 6 by a thin membrane 10, which may be formed by an suitable imperforable flexible material, pre I. erably gold beaters skin, and which conveniently secured to said connected members by any suitable adhesive material. Said membrane 10'is arranged to support the cenplate 5 in reciprocatory relation! tral conical to the marginalmember 8 which may be may be suitably secured in a, sound box of any convenient construction.

It may be here noted that the diaphragm which or moisture or may "The form of this invention shown in Fi s.

3 and 4, provides a diaphragm similar to the- 'may be; formed of any suitable material preferably paper or other fibrous'materialmay be treated with a resinous solution or other convenient material to1render.-

1t impervious to any atmospheric conditions T v beformed of. any stiff *0 diaphragm shown-in Figs. l-a'nd 2, and comprises the rigid central portion forming the conically dished plate 14; which is connected by the narrow webs. ,or spokes 15 with a sound box engaging marginal portion 16,

' forming the arc-shaped apertures 18', which are local to the periphery of said diaphragm, and which permit the free relative vibration of the central portion or plate 14:, with respect to the "marginal ortion 16 to which it is connected by the flexible membrane 20. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the central plates 5 and 14 are respectively provided with apertures 22, for the convenient attachment of a stylus barv (not shown) which may be cooperative therewith to record and reproduce sound.

It is well known that in diaphragms wherein the margin is engaged in a sound box, and the intermediate portion is free to vibrate to reproduce sound, the central portion which is connected with the stylus bar is afforded the maximum vibration, while the surface intermediate of the central portion and the periphery vibrates with varying force diminishin toward the margin of the diaphragm whic is engaged. Therefore it will be readily observed that a diaphragm constructed in accordance with this invention is advantageous in thatthe major portion is substantially inflexible, and is reciprocated bodily, thus vibrating substantially uniformly throughout its extent, and consequently the compression and rarefaction of the air in the sound conveyer due to the vibration of said diaphragm is uniform throughout its extent.

It is not desired to limit this invention to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A diaphragm' having a substantially rigid major central portion, a marginal portion connected thereto by relatively narrow paratively rigid conical dished major por-- tion, a surrounding portion and a plurality of radial webs and an annular web connecting said portions In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 9th day of November A. D. 1910.

Y J OHN'H. ELFERING. [n s.]

Witnesses:

EDWARD K. MACEWAN, I FRANK B. MIDDLETON, Jr. 

